Arrow Target Point

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a arrow target point, particularly for archery target practice and competition use, having a unique concavely curved conical section facilitating deflection of arrows already within a target and a shoulder incorporating grooves, divots, depressions or protrusions and the like to deflect and even displace or break other arrows.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/001,220, filed on May 21, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is an arrow point, particularly for archery targetpractice and competition use. More particularly, the invention isdirected to an archery target point with a unique concavely curvedconical section facilitating deflection of arrows already within atarget from displacing the incoming arrow from the chosen trajectory.Further, the invention is directed to an archery target point with ashoulder incorporating grooves, divots, depressions or protrusions andthe like to deflect and even displace or break other arrows.

2. Description of the State of the Art

The sport of archery, originally only used for survival through huntingand now additionally enjoyed for competition, is age old. In fact, stonearrowheads over 50,000 years old have been found in Africa, and archeryhas been used by nearly every society on the earth. See,www.planetseed.com/sciencearticle/history-and-sport-archery. The basicconcept of propelling a projectile through the kinetic energy of a drawnstring has not changed considerably since that time, however, the bowsand arrows themselves have gone through a considerable evolution in theintervening span.

The present invention relates to target points (instead of broadheadtips) used for for practice and sport. More particularly, the inventionis directed to a target point which has an initially convexly curved tiparea proceeding through a variable length tip shaft region into aconcave essentially cone-shaped base region terminating in shelf regionof the target point. (which then attached to the shaft of the arrowproper).

In target archery competitions, unique problems arise for a subsequentcompetitor. After a first or otherwise previous archer seats an arrow inthe targeted area, the arrow remains and is a potential obstruction tothe desired trajectory of subsequently fired arrows. When that second orsubsequent competitor's loosed arrow nears the target, there is a riskthat its point will come in contact with the nock, nock bushing,fletching or other portions of an earlier competitor's already seatedarrow. Such an impact can deflect the subsequent competitor's arrow fromits desired trajectory into a less desirable target area or even deflectit from the target altogether. This results in a loss of points for thecompetitive archer.

Prior art target points have concentrated on allowing the archer to moreeasily retrieve his arrow from a solid target such as the arrow tipdescribed by Dalton in U.S. Pat. No. 2,613,936 disclosing a“retractable” arrow point having a rounded spiral (screw-like) groove,or the tip described by Garcia in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,291, disclosingdeceleration shanks, extractor threads, and puller removal holes.Others, such as the tip described by Saunders in U.S. Pat. No.5,114,156, focused on preventing damage to a target map with anprobe-like head with “double-inflection zones” comprising a doubleconvex curvature of the tip.

The current state of the art does not provide a solution to thecontinually vexing problem for the competitive archer of how to preventpreviously placed arrows from displacing the immediately fired arrowfrom its trajectory. The present invention provides two separate,effective solutions to the problem which are even more effective whenused in combination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The target point of the present invention includes a tapered boat tailtip, a shaft, having opposing ends, with the tip disposed on one of theends, and a base region disposed on the other end of the shaft. The baseregion has conical, concave portion and a shoulder with an upper surfaceperpendicular to the shaft, and the shoulder has at least one impediment(grooves, divots, depressions, and protrusions) disposed upon its uppersurface. It can have a tip comprised of a metal which can be selectedfrom the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium,tungsten or combinations or alloys thereof. Likewise, the shaft can beselected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum,fiberglass, wood, and carbon, carbon fiber, titanium, tungsten orcombinations or alloys thereof. Alternatively, the target point mayinclude, instead of a boat tail tip, a pointed tip, wherein the sidesare parallel to the shaft rather than being curved back toward the shaftas in the boat tail design.

A further alternative target point, is a shaft, having opposing ends,with the tip on one end and the base on the opposing end, however ratherthan representing separate components, the shaft and base region aremilled from the same work piece. The base region has a concave conicalbase for deflecting arrows. It can have a tip is comprised of a metalwhich can be selected from the group consisting of steel, stainlesssteel, aluminum, titanium, tungsten or combinations or alloys thereof.The concave conical base, beginning near the shaft and terminating onthe shelf, has an angle in relation to the shaft between 0° and 90°,which can be optimally between 45° and 10°.

The shelf containing the grooves, divots, depressions, or protrusionsrepresents the upper surface of the shoulder. When the attachment regionis inserted within the arrow shaft, the shoulder is such a diameter thatit slightly overlaps the shaft of the arrow providing protection for theleading edge of the arrow shaft. The attachment region of the targetpoint which is inserted within the leading edge of the arrow shaft mayexhibit grooves which assist in adhesive retention and may also exhibitan internally threaded socket to which externally threaded weights maybe inserted to adjust the weight of the target point.

The shoulder with the exhibited shelf positioned at a 90° angle to thelong axis so of the shaft produces a unique benefit not heretofore seen.When contacting a target, the shoulder and shelf actually punches anentrance hole in the target material. In contrast traditional targetpoints which merely pierce the target material allow the target materialto dose around the shaft, resulting in friction against the shaftwhereby the shaft drags and tears target material away from the targetface and into the body of the target causing significant target damage.The present invention punched an entrance hole allowing the shaft topass through the target material with lessened friction and no shaftdrag against the target material through which the shaft passes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an enlarged elevational view of the arrow point of theinvention, showing the three component regions and elements thereof;

FIG. 1A depicts a tip with a non-tapered rearward portion.

FIG. 1B depicts base 24 inserted within the arrow shaft.

FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the shaftregion and base region of the invention arrow point, featuring theconcave conical ferrule and groove in the shoulder of the base region;and

FIGS. 3a-3b depict a schematic view of the operational method of theinventive arrow point, particularly showing deflection off an arrowalready embedded in a target by the flexible shaft and concave conicalferule.

FIG. 4 depicts schematic view of the eminent impact of the target pointshelf with a competitor's arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention comprises an arrow point having three essentialzones, an initial impact region or tip 10, a shaft region 12, and adeflection region 14.

The impact region or tip 10 preferably comprises a forwardly projecting,tapering tip 16, and a rearward tapering portion 16A, preferablycomprised of metal such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium,tungsten or combinations or alloys thereof or other material known inthe art. The rearward taper results in a shape commonly called a boattail. An alternate tip configuration would be a tip 10 with a similarforwardly tapering point 16 but a non-tapering or straight rearwardportion 16B, as seen in FIG. 1A.

The shaft region 12 is preferably a rod 18, preferably composed ofcarbon fiber. A carbon fiber rod has the ability to maintain its “memorystructure” such that it doesn't bend or distort permanently under astress load. This ability to temporarily deform also acts as an energydissipater and shock absorber. This allows the rod to realign into itsoriginal shape, thereby regaining, or essentially, maintaining, thedesired trajectory. A carbon rod is many times stronger and moreflexible than aluminum or steel, avoiding the adverse effect of a bentaluminum or steel rod. Such bends would result in interrupted airflowand/or imbalance, causing the arrow to spin erratically, negativelyaffecting the desired trajectory. As an added benefit, the carbon rod isalso significantly lighter than steel or aluminum. Alternatively, asteel shaft or other material known in the art such as, stainless steel,aluminum, titanium, tungsten, or combinations or alloys thereof or wood,fiberglass may be utilized in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, tip 16 is disposed on anupper portion of rod 18 in a manner known in the art, such as acompression fitting, of an at least partially hollow inner cylindricalportion 20 of tip 16 fittingly sized to receive rod 18. Alternatively orin combination the rod may be fitted to the tip with an adhesive orbonding agent. Rod 18 is further bonded with a bonding agent orfittingly disposed through an upper hollow inner cylindrical portion 22of base 24 of deflection region 14. Deflection region 14, has a concavecone ferrule 26, receiving a lower portion of rod 18 therethrough.Immediately adjacent to concave conical ferrule 26 a shelf 28 of base 24extends outwardly in a greater circumference than ferrule 26. The shelf28 constitutes the upper surface of the shoulder 29. A series of rings30 may also serve to retain glue. FIG. 1B shows base 24 inserted withinarrow shaft 32 fittingly disposed therein or fixed with an adhesive.Base 24 inserts within arrow shaft 32 until the leading edge of shaft 32makes contact with shoulder 29. Shoulder 29 then provides protection forthe leading edge of the shaft 32 from impact with the target material.

In an alternate preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 2, a groove36, divot, depression, or protrusion (or series of grooves or otherdivots, depressions, or protrusions) may be formed in the upper surfaceof shoulder 28. As depicted FIGS. 3a-3c , an arrow 38 separate from thepresent invention and already seated in a target area extends outwardfrom the target area. Here arrow 38 is represented by the nock portionof the already seated arrow. The target arrow point 40 of the presentinvention, affixed to an arrow shaft is fired at the target (directionof travel shown by arrow) with the previously arrow 38 embedded therein.Arrow point 40 strikes the knock end 42 of arrow 38, as shown in FIG. 3a. In FIG. 3b , arrow point 40 continues in the desired direction oftravel, with the carbon rod 18 flexing away from arrow 38 as a result ofthe force of impact as arrow point 40 continues to travel forward,sliding along the end of arrow 38. Arrow point 40 will deflect arrow 38along conical portion 26, as shown in FIG. 3c . As arrow point 40continues to slide along arrow 38, groove 36 will catch the knock end 42of arrow 38 within groove 38, often breaking or dislodging arrow 38,allowing arrow point 40 to continue in its desired direction of travelat the target, as tip 16 of arrow point 40 realigns from its flex to itsoriginal direction of travel. However, impacting of nock 43 by shelf 28serves to realign the arrow carrying the target arrow point toward itsoriginal intended trajectory. Shelf 28 will deform nock 43, or break apiece from nock 43 allowing the target point 40 to continue to thetarget.

As seen in FIG. 4, after making contact with nock 43, the target pointcontinues toward the target in close proximity to the already seatedarrow then conical concave ferrule 26 then makes contact with nockbushing 43 of the already seated arrow. The impact of the combinedangles of the ferrule 26 and the nock bushing 43 also server to realignthe target point toward its original or more desirable trajectory. Theshelf 28 then impacts nock bushing 43 further realigning the targetpoint and associated arrow toward its original or more desirabletrajectory. The flexibility of the carbon fiber rod 18 in returning toits original state, in combination with the various impacts of the shelfserver to desirably align the target point's arrow.

Concave conical ferrule 26 can have any desired angle of formation inrelation to shaft 18, from 0° to 90°. Of particular usefulness areangles between 0° and 45°, most particularly 0° and 10° in order tolimit the size of shoulder 28 to a useful size not sufficiently greaterthan conical ferrule 26.

It is understood that base 24, shaft 18 and tip 16 can be comprised ofone unitary piece composed of carbon, carbon fibre, steel, stainlesssteel, aluminum, plastics, titanium, tungsten, or combinations or alloysthereof or wood, fiberglass. And the like may be utilized for theinvention whether unitary or whether assembled from components.Furthermore, any manner of assembling portions of the invention togetherand to other arrow portions can be accomplished in any manner known inthe art. For instance, while compression is suggested in the preferredembodiment, it is understood and anticipated that adhesives, threadedreceipt, and pins may be utilized in such assembly.

1. A target point comprising: a tapered tip further comprising aforwardly projecting tapering tip and a rearward tapering portion; ashaft, having opposing ends, wherein said tip is fixedly disposed on oneof said ends; and a base region disposed on an other of said ends ofsaid shaft, said base region having a shoulder with an upper surfaceperpendicular to said tip, wherein said shoulder additionally comprisesat least one member selected from the group consisting of exposedgrooves, divots, depressions, and protrusions disposed within or uponsaid upper surface.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The target point ofclaim 1 wherein said shaft is composed of a resilient material.
 5. Atarget point comprising: a tapered tip further comprising a forwardlyprojecting tapering tip and a rearward tapering portion; a shaft, havingopposing ends, wherein said tip is disposed on one of said ends; and abase region disposed on an other of said ends of said shaft, said baseregion having a concave conical region.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled) 8.The target point of claim 5 wherein said shaft is composed of aresilient material.
 9. The target point of claim 6 wherein said concaveconical region comprises an angle in relation to the longitudinal axisof said shaft and the perpendicular surface of said shoulder of between0° and 90°.
 10. The target point of claim 9 wherein said angle isbetween 0° and 45°.
 11. The target point of claim 9 wherein said angleis between 0° and 10°.
 12. A target point comprising: a tapered tipfurther comprising a forwardly projecting tapering tip and a rearwardtapering portion; a shaft, having opposing ends, wherein said tip isdisposed on one of said ends; and a base region disposed on an other ofsaid ends of said shaft, said base region having a shoulder with anupper surface perpendicular to said tip, wherein said shoulderadditionally comprises at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of grooves, divots, depressions, and protrusions disposedupon said upper surface, and said base region having a concave conicalregion disposed above said upper surface of said shoulder and having adiameter less than said shoulder, said conical concave regions whereinsaid concave conical region comprises an angle in relation to thelongitudinal axis of said shaft and the perpendicular surface of saidshoulder of between 0° and 90°.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. Thetarget point of claim 12 wherein said shaft composed of a resilientmaterial.
 16. The target point of claim 12 wherein said concave conicalregion comprises an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of saidshaft and the perpendicular surface of said shoulder of between 0° and90°.
 17. The target point of claim 16 wherein said angle is between 0°and 45°.
 18. The target point of claim 16 wherein said angle is between0° and 10°.
 19. The target point of claim 12 wherein said shaft iscomposed of a resilient material.
 20. The tip of claim 12 wherein therearward tapering portion is tapered toward the shaft.
 21. The tip ofclaim 12 wherein the rearward tapering portion is parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the shaft.